Thursday, June 8, 2017

Farce Explodes Across the Artificial Jungle

The TBTB group
(Theater Breaking Through Barriers) celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the
Ridiculous Theatrical Company by bringing to stage The Artificial Jungle, directed
by an original Ridiculous Theater member Everett Quinton. That’s a lot of
baggage to hang on a simple little farce; the 25th anniversary of a famous
group and movement and a theater group dedicated to the advancing the work of
writers and performers with disabilities. But entering the Clurman Theatre, all
of the baggage melts away in a funny little show that doesn't take itself too
seriously at all.

The Artificial
Jungle plays as The Postman Always Rings Twice done via a Carol Burnett skit,
set in a lower east side pet store. It is goofy, farcical and very funny. The
play, by the prolific Charles Ludlam, is loud and preposterous but doesn’t fall
to slapstick. It all works because the actors might be playing everything over
the top, but they take it seriously. The actors here are great, pulling out all
the stops without ever breaking character with even a wink and a nod. It is
this group of professionals that sell The Artificial Jungle.

It is the story
of the Nurdinger family, owners of a neighborhood Pet Store. Husband Chester
(David Harrell) is a satisfied man who is content with life – family dinners,
weekly dominoes and selling the odd pet. Wife and femme fatale Roxanne (Alyssa
H. Chase) is not in the same mental space, to say the least. She is disgusted
by pet shop chores, her husband’s lack of drive and her mother-in-law’s mere
existence. Mother Nurdiger (Anita Holland) is doting mother to Chester and realistic
pet shop owner employer to Roxanne.

In a more
nuanced drama, we would be shown what motivated Roxanne and Chester’s marriage,
where the anger came from and how it built up. The Asphalt Jungle has no time
or desire to deal with these back stories. Instead a handsome drifter is hired
to work in the store almost immediately (Anthony Michael Lopez) and Roxanne
waste no time in plotting with him to get rid of the bouncy and chipper
Chester. Rob Minutoli does some admirably funny work as the police cousin of
the Nurdingers. Puppetmaster Satoshi Haga handles the duties of the piranhas.

The Artificial
Jungle moves quickly with lots of plotting, loud kissing and meaningful stares.
Originally down with a fair amount of Ridiculous Company members in full drag,
director Everett Quinton brings the same zaniness to this troop of actors. It
is a very funny show.